Presses for printing engraved stationery



June 25, 1963 E. A. GILLIS PRESSES FOR PRINTING ENGRAVED STATIONERY Filed Aug. 11, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. EDMUND A 'lLL/S FIG I June 25, 1963 E. A. GILLIS 3,094,927

PRESSES FOR PRINTING ENGRAVED STATIONERY Filed Aug. 11, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 YIIIIIIIIIIIIA INVEN TOR. EDMUND 4- 6/LL/5 June 25, 1963 E. A. GILLIS 3,094,927

PRESSES FOR PRINTING ENGRAVED STATIONERY Filed Aug. 11, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR. EDMUND 4. 6/Lus ykgii United States Patent Ofice 3,094,927 Patented June 25, 1963 3,094,927 PRESSES FOR PRINTING ENGRAVED STATIONERY Edmund A. Gillis, Paramus, NJ., assignor to The Cronite Co., Inc., North Bergen, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Aug. 11, 1960, Ser. No. 49,086 14 Claims. (Cl. 101322) This invention relates to presses for printing engraved stationery.

Most power driven die stamping presses (in the United States) operate from a constantly rotating motor driven flywheel. When such press is in operation for printing engraved stationery, the operator feeds the sheets as the press runs continuously.

Many presses in the United States (specifically modern presses) contain a gag block or impression trip, which consists of a metal part approximately thick and which is interposed in the mechanism of the press ram so that the impression trip may be quickly removed from operation during running. The removal of the impression trip shortens the stroke sufficiently that the press ram does not make contact with the die by the amount of approximately A".

The press continues to run, but so long -as the impression trip is in off position, no impressions are made since a safe space is left above the impression area.

The impression trip provides a quick means of stopping impressions without the necessity of stopping the press completely. The automatic stopping mechanism in accordance with the present invention comprises a significant improvement of the usual impression trip (or gag block) provided on the press as original equipment.

It is one object of this invention to provide, in a press of the character described, highly improved means to automatically stop the die stamping operation of the press in response to an electric impulse by causing said impression trip to move to inoperative position in response to said electric impulse whereby to prevent the ram from making contact with the die, whilepermitting the press to continue running.

Such presses have also been operated in conjunction with conventional pile feeders which oifer sheets to be engraved to a system of feed tapes or belts and rollers. The sheets are passed by said system through successive stages, in synchronization .With the press cycle, each stage occurring once for each press cycle. Usually there are three stages of feeding the sheets to the press. In stage 1, a sheet is lifted from a pile of stock by suction operated sucker nozzles and delivered to belts. These belts move the sheets forwardly and constitute stage number 2. From the stage number 2 the sheets are moved at right angles or sideways through stage number 3 to the press to receive the imprint. All three stages operate simultaneously.

I In the conventional pile-feeder, in feeding stage number 2, .a brass plate is provided over which the sheet passes. Afeeler contacts this brass plate. However, when the sheet passes over the brass plate, contact between the feeler and the brass plate is broken. -A circuit is so set up that current can be passed therethrough only when the ram of the printing press is in the up position and prior to its coming down for the printing operation. However, when the ram is up, a sheet (through synchronization) should be interposed between the brass plate and the feeler, so that the current is not completed through the circuit. However, if a sheet is not located over the brass plate when the ram is up, as for example when the supply of sheets is depleted, an electric impulse or current does pass through the circuit to operate means for breakstage 1 to stage 2.

It is hence another object of this invention to provide means controlled by the impulse produced when there is no sheet on the brass plate, to cause the impression trip to automatically move to inoperative position simultaneously with breaking the suction to the suckers, whereby to stop feed of paper and prevent movement of the same against the die, at the same time.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide automatic stopping means of the character described which will nevertheless permit manual stopping of the machine by manual movement of the shifter handle.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a machine of the character described, provided with means for starting the machine manually, after it has been stopped automatically or manually.

' provision of means for instantaneously stopping the press operation in response to any electrical impulse. One application of such an electrical impulse could be embodied in mechanism for tripping a conventional shield, actuating a switch in response to the proximity of an operators hands to a hazard area, or perhaps a beam of light focused on a photo-electric cell could be interrupted to create a necessary electrical impulse for operating the automatic means for stopping the machine.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a rugged and durable construction of the character'described, which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, which shall be sure and positive in operation, and practical and ellicient to a high degree in use.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention are inherent in the structure claimed and disclosed or will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the detailed description proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial side elevational view of a printing press embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial front elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view illustrating sheet feeding means forthe press; i

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of its mounting on the press frame;

FIG. 8 is a horizontal view illustrating the motor drive for the press;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 5; FIG.- 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9, but showing a sheet on the plate, breaking the circuit;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 1111 of FIG. 8; A

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 12-12 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 13 is a wiring diagram for the control of the impression trip, suction breaking means, and sheet feeding means. I 9

Referring now in detail to the drawing 10 designates a printing press for printing engraved stationery. This press may be of conventional construction and only the parts thereof necessary for describing the invention have been shown.

the ram and The press 10, comprises a frame 11 supporting a horizontal shaft 12 connected by clutch 13 to a shaft 14 rotated by an electric motor 15. The clutch 13 may comprise a clutch element 16 fixed to the shaft 12, and a clutch element 17 slidable on shaft 14 and rotatable'therewith and movable into and out of engagement iwiththe clutch element 16 by means of a fork 18. The fork 18 is at one end of a lever 19 pivotedon a fulcrum 20. The other end of the lever is pivoted as at 21 to a strap or: connecting rod 22. The opposite end of the connecting rod 22 is pivoted as at 23 to an intermediate portion of a shifter handle'24 (see FIG. 8); The shifter handle is pivoted to the frame 11 as at 25. Connected to the strap 22 in any suitable manner is a bar 26 provided with any suitable means, such asa-cam 27, 10 operatea brake 29 for braking the rotation of the shaft 12 by pressing against a collar 30 thereon. Although one form of brake and clutch has been shown, it will be understoodthat when the shifter handle 24 (FIG. 8) is moved to the left for rotation in a clockwise direction, strap or connecting rod 22 will first disconnect the usual clutch between the motor and the press, and then apply the usual brake, to quickly stop the operation of the press, and when said'shifter handle 24 is swung in a counterclockwise direction, the brake will first be released and then the clutch will be again engaged to immediately start the operation of the press.

On the frame 11 is mounted the usual engraved plate 39. The sheets to be printed are fed to the plate 39. Shaft 12 rotates a fly wheel 35, eccentrically connected, as by pivot 35a, to curved connecting links 36. The upper ends of links 36 are pivoted as. at 37 to the ends of a crosshead'40. Said cross'liead 40 may have a flatundersurface 40a, a rear vertical surface 406 and a curved surface 400. Said crosshead may be thick in the middle, gradually narrowing at its ends} 'FixedIto therear surface 40b as by screws 40d, is a plate 41 havinga dovetail extension 41a slidably received in adovetail shaped slot 11a in frame 11, whereby the cross-head will-reoiproeate up and down as shaft .12 is rotating.

Slidable on the frame 11, is a ram 45 also having a dovetail shaped extension 45a slidable in said dovetail slot 11a. Fixed to said ram 45is a pin 47 passing through a vertical slot 49 in the frame. Pin 47 is connected by coil tension spring 50 to a pin 51, fixed to frame ll, Spring 50 raises the ram 45.

Rain 45 is located below the middle of the cross-head 40. Screwed to the top of ram 45 is a stud 53that may be adjusted as to height.

Fixed to the undersideof the crossfhead 40 and projecting down from surface 40a thereof, is a verticalpin 55 offset from stud 53 andcar-rying a collar, 56. Pivoted to the pin 55 for oscillatory movement about thevertical axis of pin 55, is an impression trip 57 havingan outer wider end portion 58, adapted, in one position of saidtrip, to lie above stud 53:.v The impression trip is in the form of a block of metal. When said impression trip. is in the position shown in 'FIGS 2, 3, 4,'downw ard movement of the cross-head 40 will cause portion 58 of trip to strike screw 53 and depress the ra n; 45 for a printing operation.

However, should the impression trip he swung forwardly, or in a counter-clockwise direction, looking at FIG. 2, to offset portion 58 from stud 53, downward movement of the .crosshead will not depress the ram 45 and hence prevent a printing operation.

Means is provided to swing the impression trip 57 to inoperative position in response to an.electric impulse or current produced when a sheet to beprinted is not being fed to the plate 39. I

The sheets to be printed are fed to the plate39by usual means so arranged 'thatwhen the ram 45- comes down,' the sheet on said plate; will be printed, On shaft 112 is a gear 12a for operating other parts o'fthe printing press A piles feeder is provided for feeding sheets to the 4 printing press, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. This sheet feed means may be of conventional construction and comprises a stage No. 1 which comprises suitable means to support -a stack S of sheets 60.

On the machine are a plurality of suckers 62 connected by conduits 63-. to .an pump 64. The air pump exhausts air to create a vacuum at the sucker nozzles 66 which overliethestack S. On each conduit 63 is a branch 67 closedby a valve 68and adapted to be opened upon energization of a solenoid 70. When the solenoid 70 is energized, inthe manner hereinafter appearing, valves 68 are opened, breaking the vacuum or suction in the suckers 62, so that sheets cannot be lifted by movement of these suckers.

The paper feed mechanism comprises a support or frame 72 on which is mounted a shaft 73 which is caused to oscillate in any suitable manner, not shown. Fixed to the shaft 73, are arms 74 carrying a shaft 75. Fixed to the shaft 75 are arms 76, carrying the suckers 62, three such suckers being shown. Also, fixed; to the shaft 75 are upwardly extending arms 77 provided with rollers 78 engaging fixed cams 79. When the arms 74 are swung in a clockwise direction, looking at FIG.- 6 of the drawing, the suckers will first be lifted to liftthe topmost sheet 60 off the'stack S. Thereafter, contact of the rollers 78 with the cams 79 will cause'rotation of the shaft 75 in a counter-clockwise direction, to cause the lifted sheet 60 to be moved to the right andonto a roller 80 likewise mounted on said frame 72. The sheets are thus passed from stage No. 1 to stage No. 2 described hereinafter.

When the arms 74 oscillate in a counter-clockwise direction, the lower ends of thesuckers again move to the left and then the suckers move down to pick up the next sheet.

Stage No. Zcompr-ises a table top 83 around which move a pair of parallel spaced belts 84. Each belt 84 passes around a roller 85 close to the roller 80 and at one end of the table top 83'. Each belt also passes over a roller 86 at the opposite, endof the table top 83. Each belt also passes around idlers 87, and 88 located below the table top 83, The beltsrnove in thedircetion of the arrow shown in FIG. 6. The sheets are lifted by the suckers 62 and'engaged with the roller 80 are passed onto the top runs of thefbeltsy84. Thesesheets may be pressed downwardly by light strip springs 90, attached to the frame 72 as at 91 and being free at their opposite ends. At the right end of tabletop831 andon one side thereof, thereis embedded a brass plate 95. The sheet 60* moves intothe plate 95, vwhen it reaches itsfurthest position on the table top83.

Fixedto thetable top,83, adjacent to. the plate 95, is. a post 96,. Fixedto the post is. a 'feeler or feather 97 which is in the forr'nof a conductor springstrip, the lower end of which is curved as at 98 and contactsthe top of said plate when no sheet is on"said plate. However, when a sheet 60moves onto the plate it beinterposedbetween the plate and the feeler 97. -Table top 83 is formed with a cutaway or. notch 100 i]; advance of the plate 75 and adjacent an edge thereof; Within the notch 100 are rollers 101 whieh cause the sheet 60, which reaches a position overlapping the notch,to be moved on to stage No. 3. The rollers 101 constantly rotate and are mounted on a shaftl102. Arms 103 are supported by a shaft 104 which 'iscaused to oscillate in any suitable manner to bring the arms alternately to upand down positions. The outer ends of arms 103 are near the rollers 101. The oscillation of the shaft 104 is in synchronizationwith the oscillation of shaft73. When the arms 10'3 areup, the paper is allowed to come over into place overlapping the notch 100 and isheld by arms 103 spaced above the roller 101. When the arms 103 are now brought down, the sheet 60 will engage the rollers 101 and will be moved by them at right angles to the direction of the belts84, ontobelts 105 at stage No. 3

. from where they are moved into printing position on plate 39 in a well known manner (not shown).

On shaft 12 is a cam 110 having a bump 111. The bump 111 is adapted to engage a movable contact 112 and move it against a fixed contact 113 grounded to the chassis as at 114. The switch 112, 113 is closed when the ram 45 of the printing press is moved up after a printing operation.

The means for automatically controlling the impression trip 57 will now be described.

Crosshead 40 is a heavy steel beam which extends crosswise of the press and receives the downward pressure from connecting rod 36.

On the top portion of up stroke the cross-head lifts clear of the adjusting screw 53 of the ram 45 leaving a space.

The impression trip 57 is mounted on said pin 55 and is free to swing outwardly. When it is swung outwardly then on the downstroke, the cross-head 40 will move approximately further before contacting the adjusting screw 53 so that the downward stroke of the ram 45 is correspondingly foreshortened and does not press against plate 3-9.

Fixed to the middle of the front of cross-head 40 as by bolt 120 is a rectangular plate ,121 disposed in a vertical plane. The lower edge 121a of plate 121 is substantially at the level of the underside of the cross-head; EX- tending down from one end of the lower edge 121a is a lug 122 connected by a coil tension spring 123 to a pin 124 fixed to the underside of impression trip or block 57, and spaced from pivot pin 55. Spring 123 tends to swing the trip or block 57 outwardly or forwardly to inoperative position.

Fixed to said impression trip is a horizontal radial latch lug 125 having a shoulder 125a at itsouter end. Fixed to the outer side of plate 121 are a pair of vertically aligned bearings 126 in which is journalled a vertical shaft 127. Fixed to the lower end of said shaft 127 and located below plate 121 is an arm 128 extending rearwardly and engaging the shoulder 125a of lug 125 to keep the impression trip in its operative position thereby tensioning spring 123. ,Fixed to shaft 127, just below the upper bearing 126, is an arm or handle 130, which may be manually moved in a counter-clockwise direction,

looking at FIG. 2, to disengage arm 128 from shoulder 125a whereby to permit the tensioned spring 123 to swing the impression block 57 outwardly or forwardly. Lug or latch 125 has a stop 125b, adjacent shou1der 125a tolimit movement of arm 128 in a clockwise direction, looking at FIG. 2. 7

Fixed to shaft 127 and located above the upper bearing 126, is an arm 133 passing rearwardly thro h a slot 134 in plate 121. Fixed to the rear of plate 1 1 is a solenoid 135 provided with a horizontal armature 136 having a head 137 at one end, located below the rear end of arm 133. A vertical pin 139* fixed to arm 133 is loosely journalled in a vertical hole in head.137. Fixed to the rear of plate 121 and extending'rearwardly therefrom is a pin 140 connected by a coil tension spring 141 to pin 139 thereby tending to pull the armature to its inoperative position (when solenoid 135 is not energized) to retain arm 128 in latching engagement with shoulder 125a.

Upon energizing solenoid 135, in the manner hereinafter explained, armature 136 will be drawn to the left (FIG. 2) to pull arm 133 and rotate shaft 127 to release the latch 125 and allow the impression block to swing out under the influence of spring 123.

Fixed to the inside of plate 121, above solenoid 135 is a normally open switch 150' adapted to be closed by a pin 151 fixed to said arm 133 and extending upwardly therefrom, when the solenoid 135 is energized and the arm 133 swings in a clockwise direction (FIG. 2).

Referring now to the wiring diagram of FIG. 13, the line feed is designated by numerals 160, 161. The line feed 160 is connected by wire 162 to the movable contact 112, and by Mm 163 to one terminal of the coil 70a of solenoid 70. The other terminal of said coil 70a is connected by wire 164- to the movable contact 150a of normally open switch 150. The fixed contact 15% of said switch 150 is connected by wire 165 to one side of coil 135a of solenoid 135. Said wire 165 is also connected to the feed line 161. The other side of coil 135a is connected by wire 167 to the feeler 97 which contacts plate 95. Said plate 95 is grounded to the chassis as at 168.

The operation of the device for automatically (tripping) stopping the impression of the machine will now be described.

The latch 128 is so controlled that the pin 151 will close the switch 150 at the same time that the ram is up and a sheet 60 should be fed between the feeler 97 and the plate 95 if the sheet is not fed therebetween at that time. If the sheet is interposed between the feeler and the plate when the ram is up, the circuit will not be closed through the solenoid 135. However, should some thing go wrong with the sheet feeding mechanism, or should the supply of sheets be depleted and there is no sheet on the plate 95 at the time that the bump 111 on cam 110 closes switch 112, 113, a circuit will be com pleted through the coil of solenoid 135, feeler 97, plate 95 and switch 112, 113, thus energizing said solenoid and causing the latch pawl 128 to be swung on shaft 127 for releasing the latch 125 and releasing the impression trip 57 so that the impression stroke is not completed, there-by preventing damage to the machine or work pieces.

At the same time the pawl 128 is actuated, switch 150 will be closed by pin 151 on said pawl, thereby complet ing a circuit through solenoid 70 and causing its armature 70b to move to the left, thereby opening the valve 68 through a link connection 700 and breaking the vacuum to the suckers 62 so as to stop feeding any more sheets from stage 1 to stage 2. The solenoid 70 would remain energized through lead 160, wire 163, coil 70a, wire 164, switch 150 and lead 161.

While the invention has been described with respect to a sheet feeding means for controlling an electric impulse, it will be noted that the solenoid 135 can be controlled by any electric impulse. Thus the invention has other applications than the one illustrated. One such other application would be an adjunct to a safety device where proximity of an operators hands to a hazard area could trip a conventional shield and actuate a switch or interrupt a beam of light focused on a photo-electric cell which would in turn transmit the necessary electric impulse for actuating the solenoid 135.

Another application would be energizing solenoid 135 as a means of opening an air valve to stop suction on a machine other than a die stamping press. Another machine to which the described feeder may be applied is a so-called tip-on or labelling machine which deposits labels on paper sheets. In order todeactuate the operation of a tip-on or labelling machine it is necessary to stop thesuction system on the tip-on machine coincidentally as the functions of automatic feeds are interrupted because, for example, depletion of sheets.

The machine may be reset by manually retracting the trip and tensioning spring 123, while the bump 11-1 is off the switch 112 (dc-energizing solenoid 135 and releasing latch 1-28), thereby allowing the latch to engage lug to keep the trip retracted.

"It will thus be seen that there is provided an apparatus in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim;

1. In a printing press, a frame, a cross-head slidable on the frame, means to reciprocate the cross-head up and down on the frame, a ram located below the cross-head and slidably mounted on said frame, a member movably mounted on the cross-head and havinga portion adapted, in one position of said member, to engage and depress the ram as the cross-head is moved down, said member being movable to another position where said portion is inoperative to depress said ram, spring means tending to move saidmernber to said inoperative position, releasable latch means to retainsaid member in operative position against the influence of said spring means, means to feed sheets to be printed on said press, means including an. electrically actuated means to release said latch means, acircuit to supply current for actuating said electrically actuated means, and-switchmeans in said circuit adapted to be held in open position by presence of. a fed sheet to retain said circuit in tie-energized condition, whereby lack of such sheet will permit-said switch to close to, complete andenergize the circuit for actuating said electrically operated means, to release said latch means and permit said member. to move to inoperative position.

2. Ina printing press, a frame, a cross-head and ram, eaeh mounted for up and down reciprocation on said frame, an extension on the ram extending toward the cross-head, means to reciprocate said cross-head, an im; pression trip movably supported by said cross-head and in one position registering with said extension, spring means to move said trip. in one direction, latch means mounted on said cross-head to retain said trip against movement by said spring, a solenoid, and means controlled by, said solenoid to release said latch means to cause, said trip to move to, a position where itv does not registerwith saidextension.

3. The combination of claim 2, in combination with manual means to release said lateh means.

4. The combination of claim 2, in combination, with belt means to move sheets to be printed by the press, suction means to move sheets from a stack to saidbelt, a switch adapted tobekept-open bysheets moved-by said belt, means controlled by said switch to actuate said sole! noid, and means controlled by actuation of said solenoid to de-actuate said suction means.

5. The combination of claim 2, in combination with belt-means to move sheets tobe printed by said press, a switch adapted to be kept open by sheets moved by said belt, and means controlled by said switchto actuate said eno 6. In a printing press, a frame, a cross-head mounted for upand down reciprocationon said frame, means to reciprocate said crosshead, an impression trip pivoted to said cross-head, spring meansto rotate said trip inione direction, latchmeans to retain said trip against rotation bysaidspring, a solenoid, means controlled by said solenoid to release said latch means, belt means to move sheetsto be printed by said press, a switch adapted to be kept open by sheets moved by said-belt, means controlledwbysaid switchtoactuate said solenoid, a second solenoid, suction means to feed sheets from a stack of said sheets to said belt means, means controlled by said second solenoid to break the suction for said suction means, and means controlled by. actuation of said first solenoid to actuate the second solenoid.

7. The combination of claim 5, in combination with means to prevent actuation of said solenoid unless said cross-head is in a predetermined position.

8. The combination of claim 6, in combination with means to prevent actuation of said first solenoid unless said cross-head is in a predetermined position.

9. A cross-head of a printingv press, a block pivoted to the underside of said cross-head, springmeans to rotate said block in one direction, a vertical plate fixed to said cross-head,' "a vertical shaft journalled on said plate, a pawl fixed to said shaft, latch means on said block releasably engaged by said pawLto retain said block against rotation by said spring means, a solenoid mounted on said plate, an arm fixed -to said shaft and connected to the armature of said solenoid, and spring means connected tosaid arm, tending to pull the armature in one direction when said armature is de-energized.

10. The combination of claim 9, a second solenoid, a circuit for said second solenoid, a switchfor said circuit, mounted on said plate, and means controlled by the first solenoid to close said switch.

, '11. The combination ofclaim 10,- a circuit for the first solenoid, h and aswitchinterposed in said circuit for said first solenoid.

12. The-combination of claim 11, means to feed sheets to said press, and means controlled by the feeding means to move sheets into pojsition for openingsaid last switch.

13."In a printing press, a name, a member movably mounted on the frame, means, tomove saidmember, a ram movablymountedon the frame, a gag block mounted on said member. for movement from a first position to engage. and move said ram upon said member being moved, to a second position clear of said ram to allow movement. of said member without moving said ram, means to feed sheets to be printed by movement of said ram, and means to move sai-dgag block from said first positionto said second position, saidlast means includingsaneleotric circuit, a first switch in said circuit controlledbysheetsfedby said sheet feeding means, a second switch in said circuit, and means cont-rolled by the meansfor moving saidmember, to control said second tc .14. The combinationofclaim 13, with means to move sheets. from astaclcl of said sheets to said sheet feeding means, electric means tocontrol actuation of said sheet moving means, and means controlled by completion of said circuit to actuate. said electric means.

Yates June 2., 1953 Gillis... Apr. 16, 1957 

1. IN A PRINTING PRESS, A FRAME, A CROSS-HEAD SLIDABLE ON THE FRAME, MEANS TO RECIPROCATE THE CROSS-HEAD UP AND DOWN ON THE FRAME, A RAM LOCATED BELOW THE CROSS-HEAD AND SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, A MEMBER MOVABLY MOUNTED ON THE CROSS-HEAD AND HAVING A PORTION ADAPTED, IN ONE POSITION OF SAID MEMBER, TO ENGAGE AND DEPRESS THE RAM AS THE CROSS-HEAD IS MOVED DOWN, SAID MEMBER BEING MOVABLE TO ANOTHER POSITION WHERE SAID PORTION IS INOPERATIVE TO DEPRESS SAID RAM, SPRING MEANS TENDING TO MOVE SAID MEMBER TO SAID INOPERATIVE POSITION, RELEASABLE LATCH MEANS TO RETAIN SAID MEMBER IN OPERATIVE POSITION AGAINST THE INFLUENCE OF SAID SPRING MEANS, MEANS TO FEED SHEETS TO BE PRINTED ON SAID PRESS, MEANS INCLUDING AN ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED MEANS TO RELEASE SAID LATCH MEANS, A CIRCUIT TO SUPPLY CURRENT FOR ACTUATING SAID ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED MEANS, AND SWITCH MEANS IN SAID CIRCUIT ADAPTED TO BE HELD IN OPEN POSITION BY PRESENCE OF A FED SHEET TO RETAIN SAID CIRCUIT IN DE-ENERGIZED CONDITION , WHEREBY LACK OF SUCH SHEET WILL PERMIT SAID SWITCH TO CLOSE TO COMPLETE AND ENERGIZE THE CIRCUIT FOR ACTUATING SAID 